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Month: August 2017

Can Mika Zibanejad be a No. 1 center on a Stanley Cup-contending team? The Rangers are banking that he can.

Zibanejad and the Blueshirts avoided arbitration Tuesday, agreeing to a five-year contract that will pay the 24-year-old pivot an average of $5.35 million per season, double what he made on his previous deal.

“It was something I was hoping was going to happen,” Zibanejad said of the long-term agreement. “I am super happy the deal got done and super happy to be staying in New York the next five years.”

It’s the first time Ottawa has been shut out since Feb. 24. And though the Senators have held the defending champions to two goals in two games, they find themselves all even as the series shifts to Ottawa for Wednesday’s Game 3.

“When Phil is emotional in the game, he’s into it, and he’s a threat out there,” Pens goalie Marc-Andre Fleury said after making 23 saves in the shutout effort. “Again, tonight he came up big for us.”

Three stars

3. Craig Anderson, Senators — Anderson is expected to come through with the save on Kessel’s shot, but he otherwise made 28 saves in a pristine performance.

2. Marc-Andre Fleury, Penguins — Fleury became the 12th goalie in NHL history to record 10 career postseason shutouts with his 23-save showing.

1. Phil Kessel, Penguins — Kessel now has 14 points (6 goals, 8 assists) with a plus-10 rating in 14 games these playoffs.

The Senators are the feel-good story of the playoffs. Discounted against the Bruins in the first round and again upon drawing the Rangers, they’ve responded by going 6-2 in decisive fashion. It’s easy to forget Ottawa has held the home-ice advantage in both series. Coming off a pair of comeback victories, the sneaky Sens can put themselves on the brink of an Eastern Conference finals berth with more of Make Cheap Jerseys the same in La Galaxy Cheap Jerseys Game 3.

The Penguins were embarrassed 5-1 by the Senators in Game 3 of the NHL’s Eastern Conference finals Wednesday, and now Pittsburgh goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury is under fire after a rough outing.

Fleury allowed four goals on the Senators’ first nine shots in the first period before he was pulled in favor of Matt Murray. Fleury’s struggles could cause the Penguins to start Murray in Game 4 on Friday.

Forsberg then tied the game 3:54 into the third on a rebound and Josi caught Ducks goalie John Gibson looking the wrong way on a rebound for the easy game-winner. Josi’s goal was set up by a terrible penalty by the Ducks’ Chris Wagner for high-sticking Ellis with 3:55 left. It snapped Nashville’s 0-for-11 drought with the man advantage.

The Predators are the first NHL team in 20 years to win 10 consecutive home playoff games.

Not since the 2011-12 Kings has a team seemed so certain to make it all the way.

Three stars

3. Filip Forsberg, Predators — Forsberg has a goal in all three games in the series, brining his playoff point total to 11.

2. John Gibson, Ducks — Gibson made 38 saves and was run over twice. His mental lapse on the final goal put a damper on an otherwise excellent performance that kept the Ducks in Game 3.

1. Roman Josi, Predators — Josi is tied with fellow defenseman Ryan Ellis with 10 points in these playoffs, second in the NHL behind Erik Karlsson.

Eastern Conference finals: Penguins at Senators, Game 3, 8 p.m. ET, NBCSN (Series tied 1-1) — Ottawa has effectively deployed its methodical trap system in all but one period so far in the series, but Phil Kessel exploited that lapse and it’s now a best-of-five affair. The Sens will continue to do what Fc Barcelona Cheap Jerseys has worked; it’s up to the Penguins to capitalize on the few opportunities Find Cheap Jerseys they’ll be afforded.

The Knicks were without star forward Kristaps Porzingis for Saturday’s 129-122 loss against the Rockets, and he might miss even more time.

Porzingis is currently dealing with Achilles soreness but is not scheduled to undergo an MRI at this time. Still, Porzingis is aware of the dangers associated with this type of injury — especially for big men.

“I started feeling it a couple of games ago, it was a little bit of pain and after (Friday) night’s game it was sensitive (Saturday) morning and I woke up and it’s best thing to do is rest it,” Porzingis said, via The New York Post. “I felt it right away when I woke up (Saturday) morning from walking around — sore and tight. It didn’t feel right.

But Jackson needed talent, even if it was flawed. Anthony should be used to that sort of approach from his front office, no matter who is in the decision-maker’s chair.

Flawed talent has been the hallmark of the Knicks’ slate of transactions since Anthony has been in New York, for the last six-and-a-half years. Put him with one-legged Amare Stoudemire. Put him with Tyson Chandler and 32-year-old Baron Davis. Put him with out-of-shape Raymond Felton, or with the flunked-out Andrea Bargnani. The list of Anthony’s big-name, low-production teammates goes on. Now, it winds up with Rose as a New Vikings Jerseys Cheap headliner.

The one good thing Jackson and the Knicks have done—draft Kristaps Porzingis—gives them some hope for the future. But the best years of Porzingis and Anthony are just not going NFL Jerseys Nike overlap.

Luol Deng was supposed to be the wily, productive veteran on a young Lakers roster. But Sunday night he was nothing more than dead weight. In 30 minutes, Deng shot 1 of 6 from the floor and finished with two points in a 123-114 loss to the Raptors.

Timberwolves rookie literally dribbled around Portland’s Shabazz Napier before dishing an assist. However, the Trail Blazers won the game behind C.J. McCollum’s 43 points.

On one bench we have Russell Westbrook, the triple-double, highlight machine. And on the other there’s Giannis Antetokounmpo, the 6-11 “Greek Freak” capable of scoring 40 points and blocking 10 shots on the same night. Both teams are coming off losses, so expect these two young stars to put on a show and give NBA fans a glimpse of showdowns to come for the next decade.

“I’ve enjoyed my time here. It’s been a learning experience, it’s been challenging and it’s been cool all in the same,” Wade said. “I feel — for my career, for me — I needed this. I needed to see what the other side was like, too. … But I’m definitely very open and honest that Jimmy is one of the reasons I’m here from a basketball standpoint and, as we sit here right now, he’s here, I’m here, we’re happy. You don’t know what’s to go from there.”

Added Wade: “You kind of sit back and — being 35 — you kind of evaluate your years. What do you want to do? How many more years you thinking about playing? What’s the best thing to do? Is it to sign a contract, or is it to opt out and try to get a longer [deal]?”

The Bulls would be better off trading Rajon Rondo and Robin Lopez but are going to have Nike NFL Jerseys Supply a hard time doing so. Butler is turning into one of the league’s best but if the Bulls want a team Raiders Cheap Jerseys for the future it may be best to sell high.

Carmelo Anthony recently spoke out about the Knicks, but he says New York is still where he wants to be.

“I think I’ve proven that,” Anthony told reporters (via NorthJersey.com) about his desire to remain a Knick. “I don’t have to speak on that. I think I’ve proven that over the years, day in and day out. Regardless of what’s going on that’s surrounding this team, any talk, anything. I’ve still showed that me being here, coming to work, being professional, got to answer you guys’ questions every day, got to deal with you all, I still remain positive about that. I don’t think I have to prove that to anybody.”

Acoba, 30, used D’Angelo Russell’s trademark “ice in my veins” celebration after the shot as Russell himself, along with Nick Young and Julius Randle, came over to congratulate him.

“It’s good to see a lot of fans keeping that ‘ice in the veins’ going,” Russell said after the game . “I appreciate everybody for that. That’s a lot of money, man. Take care of it.”

Immediately after, Acoba, from Tulare, Calif., told the capacity crowd he planned to use the money to upgrade his mother’s aging van.

“She’s always been there for me when I need her,” Acoba said. “She’s always there to help me out. It’s my turn to repay the favor to her.”

Acoba’s nieces, at the game with him and his wife, joked beforehand that he should “just pay our tuition” if he made it, but his wife, Lenslie, admitted that the odds were against her husband.